Gateway Community Action Partnership’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance.

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP or HEA is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay for heating costs (includes: electric, natural gas, oil and other deliverable fuels). Even if your heat is included in your rent, you may qualify. LIHEAP grants are also available for medically necessary cooling costs. Applications are accepted from October 1 through April 30. (2018 deadline is extended until May 31)

UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF)

USF is a program created by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to help low-income households pay for their electric and natural gas costs. To be eligible for USF, your household must: 1) Be income eligible and 2) spend more than three per-cent of household income on gas and/or elec-tricity; (or spend more than six percent of household income on electric heating). Apply any time of the year. USF is administered by the Department of Community Affairs.